Clamp for wire-stretchers.



No. 807,200. PATENTBD DEC. 12, 1905. D. H. PARKER.

CLAMP FOR WIRE STRETGHBRS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1905.

. I 2 fl l/Wu.- H.PA R KER ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed August 29, 1905. serial 1 To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL HALL PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Thomas and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clamps for Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in clamps for wire-stretchers, and has for its obj eat to provide a clamp for application to mesh or woven wire fabrics or fencing, whereby a firm connection can be had between any ordinary stretcher or tension device and the fencing.

It is also designed to provide an adjustable device,.so as to accommodate the same to different styles of fencing and to wires of different sizes and heights of fencing.

It is also designed to provide means for securely connecting the clamp to the fencing and also permitting of the rapid and convenient removal of the device.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure 1 is a front elevation of my complete clamp. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an inner face view of what I term the back members. Fig. 4 is a similar view of what I term the front member. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower end of the clamp members reversed, showing the position of the members before they are clamped together. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the members when they are clamped together. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower end of the clamp, showing the spring-hinge or connecting means. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the crank-nut.

In carrying out my invention I use two pieces of timber A and B, the member A being the front member and the member B being the back member. On the inner face of the front memberA are secured two strips to, one at each edge. These strips are secured to the memberA bywood-screws a, the heads of which are countersunk. Through the longitudinal center of member A are bored the three holes a These holes are preferably seven-eighths of an inch in diameter and receive headed bolts, which are preferably threefourths of an inch in diameter. On the outer or rear face of the member A and toward the lower end of the same and in the longitudinal center of the same is bolted a steel strap A, which extends about one inch below the end of the member A. The lower end of this steel strap is bent slightly outwardly for the purpose of making it springy or resilient, the extreme end being turned until it forms a cuff or eye A to retain the heavy link 0. This link works loosely in the cufi' or eye. The other or back member B is similar in size to the member A and has three auger-holes 6, corresponding in size to the holes a in the memberA, through which pass the bolts D. In the longitudinal center of the member B and to the inner face thereof are secured the stripsb, b b and b 6 is a strap of steel and slightly bent outwardly to give it spring. This strap-like strap A of member A extends about an inch below the end of member B and is bent at its lower end to form a clutch or loop I) to receive the other end of link 0, by means of which the member B is rendered adjustable to the member A. The strap 6 like strap A of member A, is secured to the member B by means of bolts, the heads of which are countersunk in the inner face of the member B between the strips 1 b b and 6 In Fig. 8 is shown a bolt D, having a square head, said bolt passing through both members A and B and the head being countersunk in the rear face of back member B. The smaller end of bolt D is threaded, and on this threaded end is screwed the crank-nut E, a washer 6 being preferably placed between the nut and the face of the member A. In use there are generally two of these bolts and cranlcnuts, though I have made provision for three, as shown, and as they are exactly alike in size and proportions they are interchangeable. The holes for the bolts D are placed at various heights to accommodate different heights of fence-for instance, the lower one being put about thirty inches from the lower end of the members A and B for putting up a low fence,

I the second one about forty-four inches from lower end for use in putting up a mediumheight fence, and the third one about sixty inches from the bottom for use in putting up high fences.

The manner of using my clamp is as follows: The fence is set u against the posts, taking up all slack possib le by hand. At the point to be clamped set the back member on opposite side from the operator, with the link C under the lowest wire. Hook the other the lower ends of said straps.

end of the link in the clutch or loop I) and I draw the upper ends of the two members together. The lower wires of the fence will now be clamped as in a vise. Now put in one of the bolts D and put on one of the cranknuts and tighten until the middle wires of the fence are tightly clamped. Then put in the other bolt and put on the other crank-nut and tighten until the upper wires are tightly clamped. As the strips 1), b b and b fit in between the strips a a on the inner face of member A, the wires of the fence will be crimped to some extent and prevent the wires from slipping when clamped.

My improved clamp can be combined and used with most if not all of the principal stretchers now in use.

The device is extremely simple in construction and can be cheaply and readily manufactured and when tightly adjusted will stand any pulling that the wires of the fence will bear. It is .very durable and if kept dry will last indefinitely. It can be adjusted with the wire lying on the ground or setting up against the fence-posts and can be adjusted by two persons in a very short space of time. The adjustment can be released by one person almost instantly. It consists of few parts.

It will thus be seen that I produce a device which by its use will save greatly in time and labor, and hence lessen the expense of install ing fences.

It will of course be understood that the distance between the lower ends of straps A and B is somewhat greater than the length of link 0, so that when the link is in its locked position the tendency of the resilient straps will be to draw the lower ends of the front and back members together and throw the upper parts of each member outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, and resilient connecting means at their lower ends.

2. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, resilient connecting means at their lower ends, and means for clamping the upper parts of the members together.

3. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, a strap at the lower end of each member extending beyond the lower edge of the same, and means for connecting the straps at their lower ends.

4. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an elastic strap, secured to the outer face of each member at its lower end and projecting below the lower edge of the same, and a link for connecting 5. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an elastic strap secured to the outer face of each member at its lower end and projecting below the lower edge of the same, a link connecting the lower ends of said straps, and means for forcing the upper portions of the front and back members together.

6. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an outwardlysprung strap secured to the outer face of each member at its lower end projecting beyond the lower edge of the same, a link connecting the lower ends of the straps, threaded bolts passing through the body portion of members and clamping-nuts adapted to fit the threaded bolts and draw the inner faces of the two members together.

7. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an outwardlysprung strap secured to the outer face of each member at its lower end and a link adapted to connect the lower ends of the straps, and draw the lower ends of the members together.

8. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an outwardlysprung strap secured to the outer face of the front member, at its lower end, an outwardlysprung strap secured to the outer face of the back member at its lower end, and a connecting member pivotally secured to the free end of the strap of the front member and adapted to engage the lower end of the strap secured to the back member.

9. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, an outwardlysprung strap secured to the outer face of the front member at its lower end, an outwardlysprung strap connected to the outer face of the back member, and means for connecting the free ends of the outwardly-sprung straps, and drawing them inwardly, whereby the lower ends of the front and back members will be drawn together.

10. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, a resilient connection at the lower ends of the same adapted to normally force the upper portions of the two members apart, bolts passing the two members in their body portions, and means engaging said bolts for forcing the upper portions of the two members together.

11. A clamp for wire-stretchers consisting of a front and a back member, elastic connections at the lower end of the same, normally forcing the upper portions of'the two members apart, bolts passing through the upper portion of the two members, and crank-nuts engaging the bolts, whereby the upper portions of the two members may be forced together.

DANIEL HALL PARKER.

Witnesses:

JAs. M. JoNEs, J. A. HORN.

IOC 

